WRIT

Betty Litsinger
E-mail: blitsinger@brynmawr.edu
English House 212
Phone: 610-526-7745
Office hours: by appointment

Course Description
This course introduces the principles and practice of academic writing to students who speak English as an additional language. Students will use the writing process to improve their skills in writing academic essays in English. By analyzing models of effective writing and experimenting with alternative approaches, student writers will learn strategies and techniques for formulating, organizing and supporting their ideas. Students will have the opportunity to write essays on topics in the social sciences, physical sciences, and humanities. They will be encouraged to share their unique voices and cultural perspectives while adjusting structure and style to communicate effectively in a US college setting.

Course books and materials
Readings will be provided in hard copy or will be available on moodle.
Writing with Sources, 2nd edition, by Gordon Harvey (Your Esem professor will give you a copy.)

Grading and Requirements
Writing 120 is a full unit, graded course. Your grade will be based on the following criteria:

Writing assignments (70%):
3 essays (2-4 pages) will be written in at least 2 drafts and will be revised during class time peer conferences and individually scheduled conferences. Preliminary drafts will not receive a grade, but improvement will be considered in determining the grade on the final paper.

Participation in discussion, short writing activities, quizzes (15%):
Your classmates will expect to have something to read and discuss, so it is important that you turn in the essays and do the readings on time.
In-class writing exercises and short writing assignments will help you to practice specific writing techniques or will serve to focus our discussion.
Reading selections will be short and illustrative of the topic we will be discussing in class. Be prepared to contribute to the discussion.

Class and conference attendance (10%):
Because this is a workshop, your attendance is important, not only to your progress but also for the benefit of your classmates, who will be counting on you to comment on their writing. Absence from class more than 3 times will affect your final grade. Chronic tardiness (3 times) will be considered an absence. I will not accept the final draft of a paper until we have met to talk about at least one preliminary draft. I am happy to reschedule a conference at your request, but I expect you to inform me in advance if you need to cancel a meeting.

Schedule at least 3 conferences with me, one as you revise each of the 3 essays. Nearly all students find it necessary to schedule an additional conference as they prepare the final paper since it involves the detail work of proper documentation.

Please do not take work for this class to the Writing Center. We will work with the processes and problems we encounter within the self-contained workshop of the class.

Writing with Sources post-test (5%):
Proper use and documentation of the ideas of others is an important skill for your academic survival and success. Near the end of the semester, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate how much you have learned about summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, and citation.



Technology etiquette

For the most part, cell phones should be turned off and stowed away and extra screens closed during class. (There may be exceptions when we want the immediate access to clarifying information that the internet provides.) Recent research suggests that taking lecture notes by hand helps you to understand and remember the material better. Therefore, this year I am asking students to keep a notebook rather than taking notes on laptops or tablets. When we do use internet devices for quizzes and other activities, you are on your honor to refrain from using yours for any other purpose (no shopping, checking email, or doing work for other classes). Of course, in this and any class, you should give the speaker, whether a professor or a fellow student, your full attention. We will try to create an experience as much like in-person conversation as possible.